Bassetlaw: Mann calls for Maria Miller to be dismissed from Parliament after expenses shame

Sophie Wills

MP for Bassetlaw John Mann has called on Prime Minister David Cameron to dismiss Maria Miller from the Cabinet following the publication today of a House of Commons Committee on Standards report into her expenses claims.

Maria Miller, currently the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, allegedly claimed more than £90,000 over four years for a second home where her parents lived in south London, rather than claiming for rented accommodation in her Basingstoke constituency.

She was reported to the Committee on Standards by a formal complaint in December 2012 made by Mr Mann.

The Committee’s report released today concluded that not only must Maria Miller pay back £5,800, but also demanded that she apologise to the House of Commons for breaching the current Code of Conduct for ‘her attitude to the Commissioner’s inquiries’.

Mr Mann commented: “Maria Miller was today found to have acted in a way that is completely unacceptable for a Minister.”

“Not only must she now repay her expenses ‘overclaim’ but she was also forced to apologise to the House of Commons for showing a completely inappropriate attitude to the inquiry. It is as though she does not take the issue at all seriously.”

“Given David Cameron’s strong statements on ‘cleaning up expenses’ in the past, he will be accused of hypocrisy if he does not sack Maria Miller today.”

“Her attitude to this inquiry will infuriate the public, who have had enough of the MPs’ expenses scandal and expect better from a Government Minister.”

“Maria Miller’s apology, lasting only a few seconds, shows a lack of respect to Parliament, the Committee on Standards and the public,” he added.